Ryzen 5 2600 vs Xeon E5-2660 v3
Ryzen 5 2600
Xeon E5-2660 v3
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 2600
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-2660 v3
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2600 | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($145) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) / 12 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2600 | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+4%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($145) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($150) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 2600 and Xeon E5-2660 v3
Ryzen 5 2600
The Ryzen 5 2600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 April 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 3 MB. Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 13,145 points. Launch price was $199.
Xeon E5-2660 v3
The Xeon E5-2660 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 10 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.6 GHz, with boost up to 3.3 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011. Thermal design power (TDP): 105 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866, DDR4-2133. Passmark benchmark score: 13,039 points. Launch price was $800.
Processing Power
The Ryzen 5 2600 packs 6 cores / 12 threads, while the Xeon E5-2660 v3 offers 10 cores / 20 threads — the Xeon E5-2660 v3 has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 3.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600 versus 3.3 GHz on the Xeon E5-2660 v3 — a 16.7% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 2600 (base: 3.4 GHz vs 2.6 GHz). The Ryzen 5 2600 uses the Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) architecture (12 nm), while the Xeon E5-2660 v3 uses Haswell-EP (2014−2015) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 2600 scores 13,145 against the Xeon E5-2660 v3's 13,039 — a 0.8% lead for the Ryzen 5 2600. L3 cache: 16 MB (total) on the Ryzen 5 2600 vs 25 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-2660 v3.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 10 / 20+67% |
| Boost Clock | 3.9 GHz+18% | 3.3 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.4 GHz+31% | 2.6 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 25 MB (total)+56% |
| L2 Cache | 3 MB+1100% | 256K (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-45% | 22 nm |
| Architecture | Pinnacle Riege (Zen+) (2018) | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) |
| PassMark | 13,145 | 13,039 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi | 6,344 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Single | 1,163 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | 4,893 | — |
Memory & Platform
The Ryzen 5 2600 uses the AM4 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Xeon E5-2660 v3 uses LGA2011 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Both support up to DDR4-2933 memory speed. The Xeon E5-2660 v3 supports up to 768 GB of RAM compared to 64 GB — 169.2% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Ryzen 5 2600) vs 4 (Xeon E5-2660 v3). PCIe lanes: 20 (Ryzen 5 2600) vs 40 (Xeon E5-2660 v3) — the Xeon E5-2660 v3 offers 20 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: AMD B450,AMD X470,AMD B350,AMD X370 (Ryzen 5 2600) and Intel X99,Intel C612 (Xeon E5-2660 v3).
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | LGA2011 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2933 | DDR4-2133 |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | 768 GB+1100% |
| RAM Channels | 2 | 4+100% |
| ECC Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | 20 | 40+100% |
Advanced Features
Only the Ryzen 5 2600 has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the Xeon E5-2660 v3 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Virtualization support: Yes (Ryzen 5 2600) vs VT-x, VT-d (Xeon E5-2660 v3). Primary use case: Ryzen 5 2600 targets General Productivity, Xeon E5-2660 v3 targets Server. Direct competitor: Ryzen 5 2600 rivals Core i5-9400.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | No | No |
| Unlocked | Yes | No |
| AVX-512 | No | Yes |
| Virtualization | Yes | VT-x, VT-d |
| Target Use | General Productivity | Server |
Value Analysis
The Ryzen 5 2600 launched at $199 MSRP, while the Xeon E5-2660 v3 debuted at $1445. At current prices ($145 vs $150), the Ryzen 5 2600 is $5 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 2600 delivers 90.7 pts/$ vs 86.9 pts/$ for the Xeon E5-2660 v3 — making the Ryzen 5 2600 the 4.2% better value option.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600 | Xeon E5-2660 v3 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199-86% | $1445 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $145-3% | $150 |
| Performance per Dollar | 90.7+4% | 86.9 |
| Release Date | 2018 | 2014 |
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